Simon Harris

Simon Harris: It would be 'desirable' to use Oireachtas abortion committee's findings for referendum

Monday, December 11, 2017
By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Health Minister Simon Harris has backed calls for the Oireachtas abortion committee's findings to be used as the template for next year's eighth amendment referendum despite claims substantial changes could be made before a vote.

Mr Harris said such a move would be "desirable" and "obviously makes sense", despite noting this is "just my gut answer" and that he will need to wait until the exact recommendations are agreed over the coming days.

Wavering pro-life TDs hold balance in vote to allow free abortion for all

Ellen Coyne, Senior Ireland Reporter
December 2 2017

Politicians could decide that abortion should be completely decriminalised in Ireland in a vote this month.

The move would mean that an unapproved abortion would no longer be a criminal offence and that the procedure would be covered by the same regulations as other medical procedures. It is understood that there is growing support for decriminalisaiton among Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

At least two TDs who described themselves as “pro-life” have now decided to fully support decriminalisation and free access to the procedure.

Abortion referendum set for delay if election held before Christmas
Social-welfare increases and public-service pension restoration also hit

Fri, Nov 24, 2017
Marie O'Halloran

The abortion referendum is likely to be delayed if a general election is triggered by next week’s no-confidence motions in the Dáil. The work of the Oireachtas group dealing with abortion, the Joint Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution, will also fall once an election is triggered.

Social-welfare increases and the restoration of public-service pension payments are set to be delayed as well. But the cuts in the universal social charge, the sugar tax on sweetened drinks, and all the measures in the Finance Bill will go ahead, as the Bill has completed its passage through the Dáil. The Seanad remains in place after the Dáil is dissolved and can deal with the Bill’s measures.

Simon Harris is working to have a new abortion law published by Valentine’s Day next year, The Times has learnt.

The health minister has set the deadline for his department because he believes it allows enough time for the controversial legislation to be scrutinised before a referendum in May or June. Department of Health sources confirmed Mr Harris has set Feburary 14 as the date that the work must be finished.

Health Minister Simon Harris has said that abortion, and when it should be allowed for Irish women, must be taken out of the Constitution.

The Fine Gael minister said that the right to access abortion in cases of rape, fatal foetal abnormalities, and incest will have to be addressed. His remarks, in an interview with Newstalk, come after an Oireachtas committee cleared the way last week for next year’s referendum on abortion, agreeing that the Constitution should be changed.

Mr Harris told Newstalk that he also had an “open mind” on recommendations from the Citizens Assembly that there be unrestricted access to abortion in Ireland for pregnancies up to 12 weeks.

Zappone: public would reject full liberalisation of abortion laws
Minister for Children says she wants to encourage ‘conversations’ in run-up to referendum

Fri, Sep 29, 2017
Mary Minihan

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has said she believes the public would not support a referendum proposing the extensive liberalisation of Ireland’s abortion laws recommended by the Citizens’ Assembly.

Her comments come as the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment said it would oppose any “watering down” of the assembly recommendations, including the recommendation of 64 per cent of its members that termination of pregnancy without restriction should be lawful.

Simon Harris has said that new abortion laws must be ready to go to fit Leo Varadkar’s timetable for a referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

The health minister defended his decision to start drafting legislation that could legalise abortion in certain circumstances before a special Oireachtas committee has had the time to decide if the constitutional ban should be lifted.